the empty ocean
I just finished reading a series of articles in the April 2007 issue of National Geographic on the state of the ocean and sealife. The articles cover the global human mismanagement of the ocean in terms of industrial fishing and commercial aquaculture, the impact of industrial fishing on a small Newfoundland village that is dying because of the collapse of local cod stocks, and finally the impressive example of New Zealand in setting aside no-take marine reserves that have produced an explosion of recovery for marine life.
The article covering the global ocean crisis is downright scary in scope. The commercial fishing fleets of the industrialized nations of the world have scoured the oceans clean, leaving mere remnant populations of majestic fish species, including the bluefin tuna, hunted mercilessly to the ends of the earth to satisfy sushi needs worldwide. Some species will never recover and are effectively extinct. There are twice as many fishing vessels currently at sea as are needed for sustainable fishing. The bad news goes on and on.
The article on New Zealand offers some hope. New Zealand first set aside coastal areas as no-take marine reserves over 30 years ago. The outcome has been nothing short of miraculous. With no commercial or recreational fishing allowed, marine species rebounded quickly and abundantly in these reserves. Tourist and research dollars followed, providing a model example of how nature alone can often be more profitable than anything created by man. Thankfully the United States has started to respond to these examples, the recently established Hawaiian islands national marine sanctuary being the largest protected marine environment on earth. But more must be done or our grandchildren will know many species of fish only from photos.
The author of one of these articles makes the excellent point that if the bluefin tuna (a gorgeous ocean fish that on average once tipped the scales at 500 pounds and 12 feet long) ran on land, like lions or bison, they would be protected and revered. Just because the bluefin tuna runs in the ocean, beyond our view, does not mean it does not deserve equal reverence.
The title of this post is a Richard Ellis book I plan on reading that explores our dying oceans.
